Newly registered and additional foreign direct investment (FDI) capital in Vietnam totalled US$20.8 billion in the first 11 months of the year, representing a 54.2 per cent rise year-on-year.

Figures from the Foreign Investment Agency showed that 1,175 new and additional projects obtained investment licences with combined registered capital of $13.77 billion, up 73.3 per cent from last year.

Meanwhile, the 446 existing FDI projects in the country announced plans to increase investment by a total of $7.03 billion, a 26.9 per cent year-on-year surge.

The processing and manufacturing industries remained on top of the list of 18 sectors that received foreign investment, with 557 new projects capitalised at $16.07 billion, accounting for 77.2 per cent of the total.

Electricity, gas and water production and distribution took second place with combined capital of $2.03 billion, 9.8 per cent of the total. The sector was followed by real estate with 20 new and additional projects worth $884 million.

FDI inflow came from 52 nations and territories, with Japan remaining the largest investor. New and additional investment from Japan amounted to $5.6 billion, accounting for 27.3 per cent of the total figure.

It is followed by Singapore with $4.2 billion and South Korea with $4.1 billion.

Northern Thai Nguyen Province led other localities in FDI attraction, bringing in $3.3 billion, which accounted for 16.1 per cent of the total.

Central Thanh Hoa Province came in second with $2.9 billion from new and additional projects, accounting for 14 per cent of the total.The province's Nghi Son Refinery project alone saw $2.8 billion in additional capital.

Northern Hai Phong City took third place with $2.6 billion.

FDI disbursement in the January-October period reached $10.5 billion, increasing 5.5 per cent from last year.

The FDI sector reported trade surplus of $12.2 billion in the period. Its exports including crude oil were estimated at $81.1 billion, up 23.5 per cent year-on-year, or 67.06 per cent of the total.

Its imports were $68.9 billion, 56.92 per cent of the total import-export turnover in the 11-month period, an increase of 26 per cent against last year.

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It is commonplace in journalism to write two types of articles at the transition point between the year that has passed and the New Year. As this writer qualifies as an “old hand” in observing Thailand with a track record dating back 14 years, it is time take a shot at what may unfold in Thailand in 2011.

The first issue that can’t be answered is the health of Thailand’s beloved King Bhumibol, who is now 83 years old. He is the world's longest reigning monarch, but elaborate birthday celebrations in December failed to mask concern over his health. More

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